LIGHT RAIL: Why Can’t City Hall Tell The Truth

If this is the best the media relations department at the City of Ottawa can do, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe should consider shutting it down.

This is the kind of propaganda that was dished out during the provincial light-rail inquiry, which was called “unprecedented.” And not in a good way.

All three lines are late in completion. The west Confederation Line extension is 17 months late.

Where do we see this in the release? On the Trillium Line, according to media relations, “work is progressing well.”

In the east which is late, “work on track and systems is ongoing.”

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And on the west extension, which is a staggering 17 months late, the media relations department neglects to mention that the line construction is a staggering 17 months late.

The people of the Ottawa, who pay for this drivel, should get value for their money. They don’t. Not even close. Media relations at the City of Ottawa should be about providing accurate information not sugar-coating dreadful work among very well paid senior city officials.

What’s wrong with telling the public, through these missives, that all three projects are late.

Ottawans for their taxes should expect the truth. This should be an information service, not a propaganda operation.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is a journalist. Why is he allowing these kinds of lies and lies of omission out the door?

Would it be too difficult for the mayor to drop by Happy Town News and demand that the information coming from that the department should be the truth?

Ken Gray

This is the city release that omits that all three projects … south, east and west … are late:

The City’s Light Rail Sub-Committee today received a detailed presentation on construction activity and a schedule update for all three O-Train extension projects – south, east and west.

In the south, work is progressing well at the Albion Yard Maintenance and Storage Facility and on multiple rail bridges and guideway sections. Station construction is well advanced, with wayfinding signage, fare gates and final touches being installed at most stations. Track installation is close to completion, and testing and commissioning has commenced. Critical activities, including further testing and commissioning, and training are being monitored prior to system handover, expected late in 2023.

In the east, work on track and systems is ongoing, and significant progress continues to be made in stations and on the Place d’Orléans and Trim pedestrian bridges. By the end of the year, preparation will begin for vehicle testing on the extension.

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In the west, progress continues at Corkstown Yard Light Maintenance and Storage Facility and station construction is now underway on all stations. The Queensview pedestrian bridge structure was successfully installed in July. Excavation in the Byron Linear Park is also ongoing, and cut-and-cover tunnel construction is progressing with ongoing concrete pours for the tunnel structure.

Now compare this release with the media stories on the same topic.

2 Trillium Line stations still off grid; city blames Hydro Ottawa strike

East and west rail extensions behind schedule, light rail subcommittee hears

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